The Dindoshi police on Wednesday arrested a 22-year-old boy for allegedly kidnapping and raping a 5-year-old girl in Goregaon in Mumbai.

The Dindoshi police on Wednesday arrested a 22-year-old boy for allegedly kidnapping and raping a 5-year-old girl in Goregaon (East).

Police said that minutes before the incident the accused was seen fighting with the victim's mother over a trivial issue. In a fit of rage, the accused then forcibly took the girl to his house in a neighbouring slum pocket in Santosh Nagar area in Goregaon and allegedly raped her.

The accused, who is the native of Uttar Pradesh, have been working at a grocery store in the same area for the past five years, and was well-known to the victim's parents.

"On Tuesday evening the accused visited the victim's place and picked up an argument with her mother," said Shashikant Surve, senior inspector at Dindoshi police station.

"In fit of rage the accused pushed away victim's mother and took the girl forcibly in his house and allegedly raped her," added Surve.

Victim's mother did not follow the accused while he was taking away her daughter because she was familiar with the accused. He used to visit her place often. She, therefore, did not expect that the accused would commit heinous act, police officials said.

The incident came to light when the girl did not return home for one hour. The mother went to check on her at the accused's place and found her sitting in a corner of the house, crying. The victim complained her mother about the pain in her private part and also narrated the incident.

The mother informed the neighbours about the incident and the accused was beaten before being handed over to the police. The police said that victim was taken to a hospital and it was learnt there that she was sexually assaulted.

"Following the mother's statement we arrested the accused on charges of kidnapping and rape. He was produced in the court and has been remanded to police custody till November 10," Surve said.